שמואל ב, פרק כ״ג, פסוק ל״ז

David's elite circle of mighty warriors included men from diverse backgrounds who rose to positions of great military trust. Among these fighters were Zelek and Naharai. Their specific regional titles, the Ammonite and the Beerothite, suggest that they may not have originally been from the Israelites, yet they earned a place among the most respected men in the kingdom [ביאור שטיינזלץ].

There are two historical perspectives regarding their specific duties, stemming from a dual tradition in how the ancient records are written and read. According to the spoken reading tradition, the role of armor-bearer is singular. This means that Naharai alone held the trusted position of carrying the weapons for Joab, the military commander [מצודת דוד, רד״ק, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. Conversely, the written tradition preserves a plural meaning, revealing that both Zelek and Naharai actually shared this heavy responsibility, serving side by side as the commander's armor-bearers [רד״ק].